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RL · Joined: 23 Jan 2010 Posts: 30

Of all the places you've lived as an ESL teacher, which offered the best opportunities for outdoor recreation? By that, I mean activities such as climbing, hiking, diving, trail running, etc.

RL

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

The question itself is a loaded one. If one lives in a big city all the time, there may not be a good chance for those things, so saying Country X is bad for such stuff would be misleading.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Oman, but only for half of the year. Starting now-ish, it's getting too hot to do a lot of outdoor activities.

I agree with Glenski, and I'll add a few more conditions: is it safe enough to go up into the mountains by yourself or in a group of foreigners? With the average salary, are hobbies (especially diving) affordable? And transportation--you either need good public transportation or a salary that lets you afford a car.

Oman passes on all those counts--except the public transportation. We've all got cars here.

d

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

In Vancouver it is possible, but only the ESL teachers with lots of experience and qualifications can afford to do those activities on the weekend Smile

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Sadebugo · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 524

johnslat · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 12:35 pm Post subject:

As an ESL teacher, I'll pick Santa Fe, NM:

http://www.nmosg.com/

As an EFL teacher, I'll go with Indonesia:

http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Indonesia/Activities

Regards,
John

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

lostdegaine · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 35

Oman is excellent for outdoor activities from October to March. To get some idea of what's available, check out this website.

http://www.omanclimbing.com/forum/index.php

RL · Joined: 23 Jan 2010 Posts: 30

Thanks for all the information and especially for pointing out the expense factor. Sadebugo, Georgia photos are cool.

I can't believe that Ecuador or Argentina didn't pop up on someone's list. I would think the opportunities in those countries would be tremendous.

RL

Sadebugo · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 524

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

I think Russia offers quite a bit of all the OP's outdoorsy needs!

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:45 am Post subject:

Ecuador, hands down. Serious mountain climbing, forests of all kinds, trekking in all kinds of environment.

Beach, rainforest, cloudforest, paramos...all in a country about the size of Nevada.

BUT...you have to be really careful about checking with the locals to know where-s safe and where isn-t. It-s not the mountains that get you, it-s the banditos.

Best,
Justin

RL · Joined: 23 Jan 2010 Posts: 30

Justin ... I thought Ecuador was a relatively safe country, i.e., no banditos. I just watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations show a few weeks ago and he made the place seem a relative heaven on earth. However, he did not go trekking in the mountains:) Thanks for the information though.

RL

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:16 am Post subject:

It's a relatively safe country.

This doesn't mean, in Latin America, that you don't have safety concerns. It just means that, by taking reasonable safety precautions, you're in no more danger than anyone else, anywhere else.

Asking the locals where it's safe or dangerous to go seems like a reasonable precaution to me. Was in Ecuador seven years, never had a serious safety incident.

Had aquaintances who trusted luck more than common sense, though, and things were hard (and sometimes risky) for them...

Best,
Justin

PS- THere is no heaven on earth, but I love the place! If you're careful, there's no reason to see it as risky.